Speed-reducing mechanism.



J. B. FOTE.

I SPEED REDUCING MBGHANSM. ArPLIGATIo FILED AUG. 2s, 1909.

latentes A151122,

V SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. B.-O0TE.

SPEED REDUCING MEGHANISM.

APPLoATIoN P ILBD MG. 2s, 1909.

1,059,450, Patented Apr, 22, 1913.

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

bJ. B. FOUTE. SPEED BEDUGING MEGEANISM. APPLIATIOR FILED AUG. 28 19,09. l

1 SHEETS-snm 4.

Patentempr. '1913s `ingis a full, clear, ano

UNTEB tlltllillllll.

JOEE B. FOUTE, DE GAK IPABJK, LLNS, SSIGNOR T0 'FGQE 3R65. GEAR, #a MACHINE SEEB-REBUCING MECHAIHSM.

nonsens.

Patente-fl Apr. 22., i913.

.pplcaton led august 2S, i999. Serial 355e, 5 #Lf-93.

To 'ail uiom t mmf concern Be it known that l, Jenn B. hoorn, a resident or" @alt Park, in the count;7 of Cook and State of illinois, here invented certain new and useful Improvements in Speedleducing Mechanism, of which the follow exact description.

The invention relates to. speedreducing mechanism and designs to provide a mechanism which is simple in construction and in which undue 1wear of the parts will loe elfe@- tively avoided. Furthenthe invention designs to provide an improved speed-reducing mechanism in `which the ratio of reduction may he readily varied to vary the speed of the driven shaft with respect to the drive The intention still further designs to nroride 'an improved speed-reducing mechai nisin which comprisesl plural series of reducing: gears and in which there is provided an intermediate support for eiiectively sustaining the gears in correct` relation to avoid undue Wear. Another object of the intention is toxnrovide sneed-reducing mechanism which is constituted of elements or units whereby7 the number of reducing4 gears may oe Varied hy building up the mechanism of units or elements Which are capable of being removed or disconnected.l so that. by the addition or removal or substitution of elements, the mechanism may he employed for reducingr speed at different ratios.

T he invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

ln the drawings: Figure 1 is a longitudinal sect-ion ofy a speed-reducingl mechanism embodying the invention. Fig. i2- is a detail one of the intermediate supports. Fig. 3 is a similar View of another of the inten mediate supports. Fig. #l is a section taken i on line fh-l of Fig. l. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 or Fig. i. Fig'. is an elevation of that side of the mechanism at 'which the drire-shattfis disposed, theside of the case seing removed7 and iiarts being shown in section. Fig. l iis a central secganized for a lower nnmhe'r of speed reductions than that resultingy in the mechanism shown in Fig. l. Fig. dis e. side elevation View from the side at. which the drive-shfft is located. Fig. 9 is a View similar to Fig. 7, showing the pinions end idlers in elevation. l

The mechanism is inclosed within a snitable case which, in practice, contains lubri- 5 cant in Twhich the gear mechanism operates l and this case is preferahlj;IT huilt up of sections cr units which malte it possibe' to add reducing mechanism as ma?,7 loe desired until Vthe desired ratio of reduction is attained.

.thus organizing the case, additional geartrains may he added and supported by addingv sections or the case and the necessary intermediate supports thereto, and it is unnecessary to provide s separate case or each `cherent. speed-reducing mechanism of more or less units or an organization of mechanisms constituted or" fewer or greater elements to attain different reductions is faciliil tated. The case comprises a hollow body i formed of annular sections 10, l0 and 10b, a removable side il at one end and a rei movable side 12 at the other end of the loody. Between the annular cody sections, supporting frames and 32 are disposed and bolts 13 extending' through the sides, the 1 body-sections and said frames, secure all of l said parts together to formaninclosing case for the gear-mechanism. A drive-shaft l5 is journaled in a Suitable bearing 16 in the case-side 11 and a packing-hex l? is provided at the end of the hearing toretain the lubricant in the case. -lt will he understood that 'shaft l5 may be driven from aniY suitable source of power aty a high speed, and will communicate priver by means intermediate Areducing gear-mechanism tore driven shaft i8 which is journaled in caseside l2. Shaft l5 and the dri-Yen shaft i8 are co-axialljf disposed or aiinedand extend outwardly troni the sides of the case respectively. so that the former maj,7 ioeconnected tion illustrating the mechanism when orto a suitable source of power, such as an electric motor, and the shaft 18 will. serve to drive the mechanism to be driven at a reduced speed. Shaft 18 is journaled in a suitable bearing 19 in the case side 12 and a packing-box 2O retains lubricant in the case.

A inion 21 is formed on the inner end of the rive shaft and adjacent to the inner side of the caseside 11. This pinion meshes with a series of idlers 22 each of which is suitably journaled on ast-ud 23 which is secured in the case by a nut 24. Each stud is provided with a shoulder 25 facing the inner face of the side 11 and a head 26 at its inner end, so that the pinion mounted thereon will be free to rotate. dlers 22 communicate power from the pinion 21 to a wheel 27 having internal teeth 28 and which is concentrically mounted with respect to shafts 15 and 18. The pitchdiameter of this wheel is much greater than that of pinion 21, so that the speed of the wheel 27 will be correspondingly reduced. Gear-wheel 27 is keyed or secured to the hub of a pinion 28, so that movement will be communicated from said wheel to said' pinion, the latter being much less in diameter to cause the gear driven thereby to be operated at a correspondin ly -less speed. Pinion 28 is provided with a ushing 29 and is journaled on a reduced portion 30 of the driven shaft 18. The inner end of shaft 18 is further reduced as at 31 and this re-v duced end is journaled in drive-shaft 15 so that the driven shaft will be supported and kept in accurate alinement with the driven shaft by being supportedY in the drive shaft adjacent y,to the journal 16 for the latter; a

An intermediate support 32 is secured in the case, to provide an inner support or bearing for the driven shaft 18, the latter being journaled in a bushing 33 secured in said support. Resultantly, the driven shaft and the gears mounted in said frame and meshing with gears on said shaft, will be accu` rately kept in perative relationV and be supported in t e case. The supporting frame 32 is provided with openings 32b which permit the oil in the case to pass from one side of the case to the other.

Pinion 28 meshes with a series of gears 34 each of which iskeyed to a shaft 35, which is journaled in a bearing 36 in supportingframe 32 and extends through said frame and. at its opposite end shaft is formed with a pinion 37. All ofV these pinio'ns-37 engage a wheel 38 having an internal series of teeth. 39. To providel additional shaft at one end and the inward stresses at the opposite end, each gear wheel 34 is provided withv an annular rib or flange 40 which lits in a corresponding groove 41 in the support 32. Thisflange traveling in the groove in support 32, relieves the shaft 35 of stresses which are likely to cause it to wear away the bearing 36, and provides a construction in which a narrow support or bearing suffices for the pinion shaft 35. Y

Pinions 37 are smaller than gear wheels 34 and resultantly, the speed of pinions 37 with respect to pinion 28 will be reduced. Pinions 37 mesh with internally disposed teeth 53 of a wheel 53 which has a hub 54 through which the driven shaft 18 extends and said hub is journaled in an intermediate supporting-frame 32": Wheel 53 is disposed at one side of supporting-frame 32*1 andma pinion 55 is formed on the hub of said wheel at the other side of said frame. Pinion 55 is smaller than the pitchediameter of the gear wheel 53 and revolves at a lower speed than pinions 37 and shafts 35 to cause further reduction of the Yspeed of shaft 18 with respect to drive-shaft 15. A series of idler inions 56 are journaled on studs 57 forme on, and, projeotin supporting frame 32, eac being held fon one of said studs b 58. The oute'portlons of idler pinions 56 mesh with Ainternally 'disposed teeth 39 of a lwheel 38 which is secured on the driven shaft .18 by a key 42.` Y

The side 12 of the case is provided with a screw-threaded opening, which isclosed by a plug 50 to permit lubricant to be introduced laterally from;

a disk 57 and screw' into the gear-case, so that the entire mechs.-v

nism wllrun in the lubricant. Side 11 of the casesisxalso provided with an opening 51 which is closed by a plugY 52 to permit the lubricant to be drained from the case-when desired. i

In operation, shaft 15 will be drivenA at high speed, usually from an electric motor. Pinion 21 will be driven by said shaft and will rotate idlers 22 which will impart rotation in the opposite direct-ion to the gearwheel 27 at alreduced speed, corresponding` to the ratio between pinion '21 and said gear`A wheel 27, and the latter will correspondingly rotate pinion 28 to drive gears 34 and shafts whereon they are mounted and to which they are secured. The relative speed o f shafts 35 and pinion 28-will be reduced correspondingly to the ratio of pinion 28 and the gears 34 thus resulting in further respondingly lower speed. Gear-wheel 38 will drive driven shaft 18. Resultantly, the im proved speed reducing mechanism, as described and illustrated in Figs.`1 to 7, in-

volves four reductions of speed, e., first,

.duction of speed. Pinions 37 o-n shafts 35 between pinion 21 and gear wheel 27; secvond, the reduction resulting from t-heratio between pinion 28 and .gear-Wheels 34; third,

; -34 will be rendi substitution of gear wheel necessary to effect- 'tweenpinions 37 vanda-gearwheel 53, and.

fourth that resulting from the ratio between pinion 55 and gear-Wheel. i

An advantageof theA mproved constiiiction is that by replacing pinion 28 and gearwheels'B/l with* gears' offditferent jratios,

the reduction may be varied. "liiusfor-example; ifthe reduction effected by' the mechanism shown is`120 to 1, and pinion 28 is disconnected from gear wheel27 and gear.- wheels 34 are vdisconnected from their shaft 35 and gears 28 and 34 of the same diameter are substituted, the ratio of s eed between the driven shaft 18 and the rive shaft 15 will be"one to sixty. Therefore, the invention provides a speed reducing gear which periiiits the ratio of reduction -to be conveniently varied or adapted for different reductions. By removing the case side 11 from the body withdrawing shaft 15 and idlers 22 which are journaled on studs 23 from the case,.tlie gear-wheel 27, inion 28 and gear-wheels y'gaecessible to permit the change in the ratio "of'reduction init-his manner. 1 i .y v-

`An im ortant feature ofthe invention consistsv lin providingan intermediate for central' supportin'xti case and disposing the speed-reducing gears at both sidesthereof and in utilizing onev or-'more of 'ti ment-with respect totlie 'othervcoperating parts; In the embodiment of the invention shown, the driven jshaft is journaled in the intermediate support, so that vits i'nnerend will be truly positioned vand held against driving stresses andthe intermedias supports serve l also to carry the y intermediate shafts 35 in' correctl relation' with. respect tothe driven shaft, so that the pinionsl 37 and gear BSQwilibe-supported inrtrue driving relation and remain unaffected bythe driving stresses. Also'by` mounting the idler gear 22 on bearings supported by the case and mounting4 the gear-wheel 27 and pinion 28 on' the sliaft-'ladjacent thein` teriiiediate support or bearing-for the latter shaft, and supporting the shafts B5. in'tlie intermediate support, the correct relative position ofthe gearttran between pinion 21 and shafts 35 will always be maintained. :Another feature'of the invention consists in providing a construction which -is constituted of units or elements'jca able "of bef ing-builtiip 'into a structure! or 'effecting reater'or lessreductions in speed between t endrive-shaft land tlielidriveiip'v shaftev By able i bodylf' sections and* an intermediate support,`the'-'improved mechanism isl adapt-v ed for variation to effect al greateror less 10 of the case` and.

this support for kee ing e shafts in-fcorrectya ine number ofreductions than that exemplified iirFiUs. 1 to G of the drawings. Manifestly, by adn/ding supports 32, gear-wheels 53 with pinions A55 and the body. section, the case may -be expanded to contain and support the'additional gears necessary to attain even greater reduction of speed. So also by removing gear 58, body section 10, intermediate support 32, idlers 56 and gear-wlieel 38 and substituting for the latter a wheel which is'adapted -to mesh with pinions 37, a mechanism which involves one less reduction may be provided. Such a construction is illustrated in Figs. 7 and J of the drawings, in which a vear-wheel 38 keyed to the driven shaft nies ies with pinions 37, body-sections 101, supporting-frame 32 and the gears and pinions mounted therein having been removed and body-section 10", case-side 1Q having been brought into position to form together with the remaining parts of the case a complete inelosing case for the gearmeelianism thus organized. Manifestly, therefore, by the expansion or contraction of the case'fand variation of the gear-mechanism, b `the addition or removal of its units, di erent reductions of speed between the drive-shaftand the driven shaft may be effected. If desired, an inwardly disposed hub 54* may be formed on gear-wlieel 53 and an idlcr'45 (Figs..1 and 5) journaled on said lhub to mesh with all of the pinions 37 and alikegear-wheel 45* may be journaled on gear-wheel 38-(Fig. 7 to mesh witliall of inions 37.

thep T ie invention is not to be understood as restrictedto the details illustrated and devscribed,..since these may be modified within t-lie scopel of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. i

- Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by'Letters Patent, is: r

1. The combination of a non-rotatable case havingiixed sides, a drive shaft, aiid a driven'sliaft journaled in the fixed sides of the caserespectively` a pinion in the case and on lthe rive shaft, studs carried by one side of the case a'nd sustained against bodily movementl thereby, idle'rson said studs respectively; an internally toothed rotatable gear meshing with said idlers, and gearing between said internally toothed gear and the driven-shaft;

, 2. The combination of a non-rotatable lcase having fixed sides, a'drive shaft and a ,driven shaft journaled in the fixed sides of the ease respectively, and co-axial with each l y. otherfafpinion iii the ease and on the drive forming the casevfwith'oneor VmoreZremov-V .idlerson said studsrespectively, an intei-4 nally toothed Irotatable gear meshing with lill) lOl-i llo ysaid idlers, and gearing .between said linternally toothedA ear and driven shaftm B: The combination of :a*Inon-rota'taltiliey.v

said support, and shafts journaled vin and extending-through said supportand to each end of which one of said gears is secured, said case being vformed of sections to permit `removal of the gears at one-side of the support and the substitution of other gears therefor.

4. The combination of a non-rotatable euse having fixed sides, a drive -shaft mounted in one'side of the case, a driven shaft .co-axially mounted with res eetto the'drive shaft in the other side of t ie case, an intermediate fixed support se iarably secured in the case and .gear-meel driving the driven shaft at a different rela'-v tive speed v`with respect `to the diive".sliaft comprising gears at each sideofsaidsupport, andy shaftsextending through saidsup-v port and toveaehfend of -which oneofu said gears is secured. y y ,i "f5.- The combination of a non-rotatable case, a .drive-shaft-inonnted iin one `side ofthe euse, la driven shaft mounted 'fin .the other side etjthe case,- an `intermediate `:fixedv sup; port.'y in 'which one lof said shafts f isjournaled,'a.fv pinion on the'drive-shafnstuds Veouiprisin securedtothe case, idler-gears on said'studs and"meshinglwithfsaid inion' and gearmechanisin between'said id ers and' the-driven shaft, comprisingan yinternallytoothed: ear .-ngaging-said idlers,.saidgear'hnd i ers beingidisposed at one 'sideiof said support, said gear-mechanism -comprising also .gears at the other sidefof .saidsupport operated by saidV internally; toothed gear.'

case, l`a. drive-shaft mounted in y'oneside fof the case, a driven shaft mounted in the other side ot' the ease, anintermediateiixed:support-in whirlifone of said shaftslisjoun naled, -af pinion yon' Ithe drive-shaft, studs secured tothe ease,g,idlers on said studs .and

meshing lwith said"`pinionsand gearmecha'-' nism between said'idlers and thegdriven shaft an v internally 1.toothedl` Ageamenraging' sind.idlers,saidgear and idlers Abeing disposed atfone. side of said support, said,v gear-mechanismeomprisingalso gears atfthel:

other/side' ofa'said supportl voperatediby said internallya vtoV toothed a gear bein mounted?. to around fone.A offsaid` s 1 inism between said 'i 1 ."Ihe combination of a y-non'-rotaitable' case,'vafdriveshaft journaled in one side-of the fcase a-:driven shaft journaled in the -otlierfsic e .of Vthe ease, 'Ian vintermediate fixed support in` which one of said shafts is journaledy'a pinion on the drive-shaft, studs secured :tothe ease, idlers on said studs and meshingwithsaid inion, and gear-mechaglers and the driven shaft eomprisingsan internally toothedjear engagingsaid idlers, said gear and idlers being disposed at one side o fsaid support, sind -gear mechanism comprising also gears atzthe other side of' said support operated by said internally toothed gear, said internally toothed gear being mounted to revolve around the driven shaft and having a huh through which the driven shaft extends.

8. The combination of a non-rotatable case, a-drive-shaft, a pinion on said shaft, idler .gears sustained by fixed journals, a revolnble internally toothed gear meshing ivithsaid idlers, a pinion rotating with said internally toothed gear, a driven shaft, au internally toothedrevoluble gear secured to Ythe driven shaft, and gearing between the pinionon the first mentioned toothed gear and the gear onthe driven shaft comprisingr a plurality of pinions engaging the internally toothed wheel on the driven shaft.

-QVThecombination of a non-rotatable case, adrive-sliaft, a pinion on said shaft, idler..-gears sustainedby fixed journals, a revolubleinternally` toothed gear meshing Awith said idlers, a pinion rot-ating Withsaid internally toothed gear, a drivenl shaft, au

internally vtoothed revoluble gear secured to the driven shaft, andgearing'between the lpinionon the first mentionedinternally toothed gear and the gear-.iony the driven 'shaft,comprising va plurality `of pinions 'meshing with the internallytoothed gear on theQdrivensliaftyand pinions rotating with saidflatter pinions and meshing with the pinionmvgon .the tirst mentioned internally toothed-genaamd a fixed support between the' internally.- toothed gears by which said intermediate gears are sustained.

10.v Thecombination of a non-rotatable case, a driveshaft,a-driven shaft, a pinion on ;the.driveshaft, idlers journaled on the case andengagin said pinion, an internally toot-hed gear mes ling with said idlers, a pinionon-.said gear,l an internallygtoothed gear wheelsecured to .the driven shaft and gearing=bet\veen said latter internally toothed gear on ,the pinion and the internally toothedgear engaging` said idlers and an in terinediateftixed .support provided with bearings forgsaid gearing, the latter comprising idlerscarried by said -bearings.

r`,.11..Tlie-combination of a ease, a driveshaftljournaled in one side of the case, a

)drivenshaft5jonrnaled .in the other side of llt) lill

the case concentrically with,;said driven shaft, a pinion on'. the' Kdrive'isliz'ift,` idlers Journaled onxftliek ease andengagmg fi said ,pinion, an internally toothedgear meshing with said idlers, a pinion on'said gear, gearwheels engaging said pinion,'shafts to which saidlatter gear iivheels are secured, fixed: bearings for said shafts, pinioiison said:

shafts respectively and an internallyv toothed gear secured to the driven shaft and engaging the latter pinions.

12. .Theeomhination of a case, a driveshaft, a pinion on said shaft., idlers meshing'` with said pinion and mounted l,en fixed journals, an internally toothed gear meshing with said idlers, a pinion secured to revolve with said gear, gear-wheels meshing with the lattei' pinion, shafts on which' the latter gear wheels are respectively fixed, bearings for said latter shafts, pinions on said latter shafts respectively, an internally toothed gear wheel meshing with said latter pinions and a driven shaft to which the latter internally toothed wheel is operatively connected, the pinions on the first internally toothed gear wheel and the gear wheels meshing `.vith said pinion being removable, so that the ratio of reduction may he varied by the substitution of different sized inion and gears.

13. he combination ofV a case, a driveshaft journaled in the case, a driven shaft joiirnaled in the case, a pinion o n the driveshaft, an intermediate fixed support between the sides of the case and gear-mechanism for driving the driven shaft from said pinion comprising gears sustained by said intermediate support, the su ort` and gear wheels being-provided witlh an interfitting flanges and grooves.

14. The combination of a case, a driveshaft journaled inthe case, a driven shaft journaled in the ease, a pinion on the driveshaft, an intermediate fixed support' betivecn the sides of .the case and gear-mechanism for drivin the driven shaft from said )inion comprising shafts mounted in said intermediate support and gear wheels at the opposite ends of said shafts respectively, said support and some of the pinions having interfitting parts.

15. The combination of a stationary ease, a drive-shaft mounted in one side of the case, a driven shaft mounted in the other side of the case, a pinion secured to the drive-shaft,

gearing between said inion and the driven shaft, and an interme iate support for ysome of theigearing, removably securedin'the case, sai gearing comprising elements carried by said support,-said, case beingbinlt rupV- of sections, whereby'y 'the ratio of-,the 'driven shaft with respectto-tlie,drive-shaft may be changed bythe addition or removaly of some of the elementsof said gearing and 4toothed gear ivhee the, addition or removal of one of said supports.

i 6. The combinat-ion of'a stationary case, a drive-shaft mounted in one side of the case, a driven `shaft. mounted in the other side of thecase, a pinion on the drive shaft, an internally. toothed gear wheel having a pinion `secured thereto, gearing between said gearwheel and the pinion on the drive shaft, an intermediatefixed support by which said {fear- Wheel and the latter pinion are revoliihly sustained, idlers carried by said intermediate fixed su port and an internally l)engaging said idlers and operatively connected to the driven shaft.

17. The combination of a stationary ease, a drive-sliaft mounted in one side of the ease, a driven shaft mounted in the other side of the case, a pinion on the drive shaft, an internally toothed gear wheel having a pinion secured tlieieto, and connected to be driven by the pinion on the drive-sliaft, an intermediate fixed removable support by which said nrear wheel and the lat-ter pinion are revolubly sustained, idlers carried by said intermediate fixed sup ort and an internally toothed gear wliee engaging said idlers and operatively connected to the driven shaft.

18. The combination of a stationary ease, a drive-shaft mounted in one side ofthe case, a driven shaft mounted in the other side of the case, said shafts being co-axial, a pinion on the drive-sliaft, gear-mechanism between said pinion and the driven shaft, comprising a plurality of internally toothed gear wheels co-axial with the said shafts, a pinion on one of said internally toothed gear wheels, comprising plural seriesl of idlers, one series engaging the pinion on the internally toothed gear and another engaging another of the internally toothed gears.

19. The combination of a stationary case, a drive-shaft mounted in one side of the case a driven shaft mounted in the other side o the case, said shafts being co-axial, a pinion on the drive-shaft, gear-mechanism between said pinion and the driven shaft, comprising a plurality of internally toot-lied gear wheels co-axial with the said shafts, a pinion on one of said internally toothed gear wheels, comprising plural series of idlers, one series engaging the pinion on the internally toothed ear and another engaging another of the internally toothed gears and an'intermediate support in the case for the idlers.

` 20. The combination of a stationary case built up of a plurality of longitudinal seetions, a drive-shaft and a driven shaft mounted inthesides of the case, gearing in the(v ease between said shafts comprising plural series of idlers having fixed bearings and-'internally toothed gears, and a removlll() llO llS

ablel fixedk Vsupportvih the'ea'se.nndienrrygi *drYen, by`-snid Vidlers,Vy un intermediate supnully `toothed"'fenkrs'. f 'f'qfw I fsupprtLthe",idlers carried thereby und the 5 :1 dre-shnft mounted inv one side-of the case# vformed offsectons,"so that the case may be 1 edrjve shaft mounted in thefthersde o built up oreduced. the case, n' pinion onV the drve-shnftQgear 1- JOHN B. FOOTE. mechanism-v` betwee'nf s'nidVA pho and' ther Witnesses:- diven shaft comprsngidlers huvingxed i """"'FRED GERLACH,

10 bearings, uninternnlly toothedfger-wheel i HILDUR C. PETERSEN.

Copie: of thin patent mayfbe ebtlainedfol-ve cent! each, byaddreuing the u gommmioner of mmm, Waihington, D. 0. 

